HAPPY GALENTINE'S DAY!

Sorry lady friends, but there's no breakfast or waffles involved. I'm sad too, but work's got me sleeping all day. If you win and you're local maybe I'll take you out on a day I'm off.

Work ruins everything except my bank account. Well, and I love my job but that's another story for another time.

You know Leslie Knope's Galentine's Day is making it when NPR publishes a story on it.

SOOOOOooo, I have things to giveaway.

The sweetest love mug, a pair of earrings from my favorite [now closed] earring maker, a fantastic neutral nail polish, my fave lip balm [and it's vegan! and raw!], that egg thing that I use to hold my earrings [it's amaze for all the studs], and a big pile o' caramels [handmade by me]. 

I could take or leave Valentine's Day, but I love LOVE and I love hearts and pink, so I'm down. BUT, celebrating women for Galentine's Day? ALL DAY ERRRY DAY.

I've been so inspired by women in marches, women speaking positively about their bodies, women who stand up and persist, older adults finding love with unexpected partners, and women who thoughtfully fight for what they believe.

What or who is inspiring you? Comment to win the goods [and breakfast if you live locally]. 

random.org chooses #3, Erin (-: 

xoxo

commenting open until 1/14/17 at midnight

from around the interwebs [giveaway]

-->Oooh, love this from Freeplaylife Challenge. How true is that? How hard is that??

-->This list of The 10 Best Fictional Boyfriends has inspired me to write my own because I don't actually know who half those men are. Here is my list:

8. I'll stick with Thought Catalog and go with Ron Weasley. Both because I love Ron and I love the gingers. 

7. Captain Georg von Trapp. He's becomes strict and rigid after his wife died. He doesn't know how to show his children how much he loves them. I love that he can open his heart to them and be a loving father. Anything hotter than a man who loves his children? 

6. Wesley from The Princess Bride: funny, smart, loyal. "As you wish." Any man says that to me, I'm smitten. 

5. Jim Halpert from The Office I love his sense of humor even though watching The Office makes me uncomfortable. 

4. Capitan Li Shang from Mulan only because Donny Osmond does his singing. *sigh* We've talked about my love for the Donny's voice, right?

3. Brian Kelly from Something New, if you haven't seen this you must. Brian is practically perfect and it doesn't hurt that he looks like that. 

2. Fiyero from Wicked, he chooses based on her heart not her looks! WHAT?!?! He defies authority [which he's part of] to protect Elphaba. He also gives up normal life to be with her.

1. Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables. Duh. If I have to explain how Gil and Anne's love has messed me up since I read the books in 4th grade, you don't even know me. 

-->I need this for Hank:

-->This is my friend and she's doing a 31 Day Challenge. She's like a for-real writer who is incredibly brave to write about her life. Go read her stuff. 

-->For those of you who feel shame and intimidation when it comes to exercising with all those sports-bra-wearing women and six-pack-ab-toting men read this: Hey, Fat Girl. When it comes to running I'm all over this...on both sides. Not that I'd ever wear a sports bra alone or will ever have a non-insulated abdomen.  

-->Just for kicks and giggles, and since I'm listening to it for the first time *rightnow*, I'm going to give away a digital copy of Mumford & Sons new album Babel. [The regular album, not the deluxe one.] I'm quite pleased with it thus far and you need to share in my love for their music. 

To enter the giveaway just tell me something awesome you've seen around the internets as of late. OR just say "HI!" OR tell me your favorite fictional boyfriend or girlfriend. Choose what is more appealing to you. (-:

One entry per person, I'll choose a winner on Sunday, Oct. 7 so comment before I get around to doing that, OK? 

love you people,

amy

Sunglasses! [giveaway]

As you know, this summer has been cray-cray.

Mostly because my ambitions when the temperature is above 75 degrees revolve around basking in the sun, reading books in the sun, sleeping in the sun, and swimming in the sun.

Me and the sun? BFF. Except that one time, but we're not talking about that.

My eyes? They don't like the sun. Well, to be fair, I don't know that they don't like the sun, but they get squinty and I get headaches so I wear sunglasses.

This summer I got my first pair of prescription sunglasses from Firmoo. They were cheap! I've been shopping around for prescription sunglasses [cheapest price I found? $90] then I discovered Firmoo! I found prescription sunglasses for less than $40. [As I always do when making a purchase online, I googled "Store Name coupon code" and found a 40% off coupon too. YAY!] You know I love a deal, so in about 5 clicks, they were purchased. BOOM.

Then they arrived and I fell in lust love lust LOVE.

As I was exploring Firmoo's cheap eyeglasses [hey-a girl never knows when she'll need another pair! They have a first pair free offer if you're a new customer to Firmoo!] I also signed up to get a pair of non-prescription, totally hip sunglasses for one of you!

They're totes cute. 

These sunglasses wrap around keeping the sun at bay and giving a very Jackie O vibe. I love that vibe.

I had to try them on for you.

Yup, cute! I'd keep them, but they're not prescription and as you saw earlier my heart beats for one pair of sunglasses.

Did you want 'em? 

Just leave me a comment by Sunday, Aug 26th letting me know the best thing you did this summer!

Winner will be chosen by random.org. Any inappropriate comments will be deleted. 

**The free sunglasses were provided by Firmoo. I purchased my prescription sunglasses. All opinions are my own.**

500 seems like a lot

Oh my-lanta.
This is my 500th post. Does that seem high to anyone else? I had enough to share 500 times?
WEIRD.
INTERESTING. [I hope. I try.]
CAT-FILLED.

I've now been blogging since June 3, 2009. WHAT THE WHAT?!?! Freals [still trying to make it happen, people], it doesn't feel like that at all. I've mentioned how much I love keeping this online journal and sharing my life with all you internet friends. In many ways, when I've felt lonely and been in transition YOU have been my people. I appreciate your kind words, calls, comments, suggestions, participation, texts, facebook messages, and encouragement more than I can even say.

Some of you have been around since waaaay before 2009, some around the same time this started, some of you I've picked up along the way, some have come and gone, some are random visitors, some of you lurk anonymously, and I'm sure for one or two of you this is your first time.
I LOVE YOU ALL. 
It's not even effort-filled love; it's easy fill-my-heart-with-sunshine love.

In honor of my 500th post I decided to show you 10 of my favorite posts in completely random order. There's also a little something special for you to try to win if you like snail mail. (-:

---------------------------------------------------------------

January 10, 2012 One Time I Did Something Not Smart

February 3, 2010 Confession

July 7, 2011 Lemon Lush

September 13, 2009 This message brought to you by Hank
April 6, 2011 Product Testing: the Diva Cup

August 5, 2011 Smitten

February 23, 2010 Day Six: Hawaii
[let's be real...all of Hawaii was my favorite. (-:]

July 3, 2011 A New Pace

October 15, 2010 The Birds

February 10, 2012 A Moment of Pride

---------------------------------------------------------------

Now for the goods: I have a box of sunshine and happiness for someone.

It's on the girly side [sorry boys, but maybe there's a lady-friend in your life who would like it?]. 

Also, to the winner, I will be using your nail colors next week. (-:

Leave me a comment telling me what you like hearing/reading about. 
(-: 

Deadline: Next Sunday, July 29th

[We don't have to be BFF for you to enter. It's ok. Even though I'm socially awkward, I like new friends. You can do it.]

mudlove

Esperanza.
              Espoir.
                         Hoffnung.
                                         Speranza.
                                                       Esperança.
                                                                       Håber.
                                                                                    Nadzieja.
                                                                                                      Hopp.
                                                                                                                     Надежда.
                                                                                                                                          Hoop.

                                   Hope.

This is a Mudlove band. I love it! 

You know what I love even more? THIS.
Go.
Read it.
Come back.
A fantastic business mission if I've ever heard one.
[Yes, I'm bossy. Just listen to me. Here it is again.]

Hope is such a powerful word to me. Hope is a place where I try to live with optimism, joyfulness, positivity, happiness, and love. Life is hard. Everyone has hurts and pain and problems and suffering and trials and bruises, but I try to remember that hope can be a light in those times.

I have faith to believe that  hope can exist.

And "esperanza" is not the only choice of Mudlove bands: agape, anchored, be mine, beautiful, believe, beloved, courage, create, dream, freedom, grace and the list goes on and on! There are also necklaces, rocks, and t-shirts available on the website. Awesome!

I did get an "esperanza" bracelet for one of you. Did you see the last line up there? "is a good gift for anyone in need of some love."

Here's the deal: Do you need some love? Do you know someone who needs a little hope? I got a bracelet for someone...a friend of yours? You? A random stranger? A co-worker? A family member? 

Just leave a comment...tell me what your favorite word is available on the Mudlove bands OR feel free to anonymously tell me who it's for [i.e. I have a friend who is struggling and could really use a pick-me-up]. 

Make sure you include your email address, so I can contact you if you're a winner. 

Open for comments until 11:59pm [EST] Tuesday, February 14th. 

Maggie, you're a winner! (-:

xoxo

Music for Yooooou

Hi, have I told you how much I love you lately? You forgot? I'm sorry, I'll be better.

I luv you.

After spending some time in Twitter-ville, I kept coming across people talking about The Avett Brothers. I trust the people I'm friends with on Twitter. I must find this music. I must listen to it. I must like it.

Found it on on Amazon. [For $5! you know I love a deal!]

It happened to be this live album:

Love it. Although, sometimes there's some questionable screaming. I only mention this because I'm concerned for the vocal chords of whoever is screaming/yelling/shouting/passionately making noise.

Here's the song that gave me pause:

I think you might need it in your life. Would you like it?

Aaaaaaannnnnnnddddd the winner is: 

Lee! 
[And, yes, I only counted the first responses from Lee and Rachel in the running dialogue occuring. ( :]

Leave me a comment telling me what new music group or album you're smitten by right now. Hopefully we'll discover some new music in our lives. ( : 

Deadline: Next Thursday, Feb. 24
[We don't have to be BFF for you to enter. It's ok. I'm just going to email the winner the album 
via Amazon. Go ahead. You can do it.]

xo

Hat

UPDATE:
I thought that people might be hesitant because they couldn't see the full intensity. I mean, those pictures look a lot like two shades of orange to me. Are you getting any pink? I think not. Well...for full effect:

I love this styrofoam head. I think it's beautiful. Perhaps a little creepy, but it sits in my bookcase so I can't see her face while I sleep since that's the only time that creepy things are creepy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As promised...the hat hawtness is here.

Yup, I look bald. Thank you to those of you who voted for the short hair.

hahahahaha

Megan looks cute, except she says that this hat was made for a middle school girl. I have no idea what she means. I'd totally wear it except I don't need it (and I look bald).

I'm not sure that you're getting the full intensity of the neon orange and pink that make up this hat, but if you're the winner you will come to understand it.

It's time for a story:

Back in the day (approximately 17-23 years ago) I enjoyed pretending that I was a sixteen year old. My cousins and I would play in my grandparent's basement and we would be poor, orphaned sisters abandoned by society.

Woe is me. It was all very dramatic.

As the oldest, sixteen-year-old adult, I usually took on a maternal role for my much younger "sisters" (in real life we were all about the same age) who needed my guidance. I was so wise.

Of course, we had pretend names. Wanna guess what mine was?

Do ya?
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?

"Jasmine, but you can call me Jazzy."

Usually I took the time in the preparation of playing pretend to clarify that "Jazzy is spelled J-A-Z-Z-Y, not with the "s" from Jasmine." Yup, that was me. The old, wise, sweet-sixteen Jazzy. Classy.

I totally stole "Jasmine" from Aladdin (obviously) because Aladdin was my cartoon crush. Hottest cartoon character? Aladdin. [I feel that you should know that "Jasmine" was only my name after Aladdin came out in 1992, prior to that I can't remember my name, the important part was that I was sixteen years old, which mean that I was an adult.]

You're left with two choice here. You can either leave a comment telling me your pretend name from you make-believe games as a child or your cartoon crush. 

I guess there are three choices: you can tell me both. 

Comments will be taken until 

Thursday, January 20 at 10pm. 

I'll send you the hat if random.org thinks you're a winner. 

Sheila B you're a winner!! Shoot me an email or FB message so I know where to send this lovely, lovely winter-wear. 

If you haven't read these comments...take some time to do so, they are awesome! 

I love you people!

It's Time for a Giveaway!

You know I love Christmas music. You need some of that love.

Trust me.

I am now going to admit something to you. I just spent some time (no, I'm not telling you how much) reading the biographies for the members of Straight No Chaser. And yes, if they were a tenor 1 or 2 I totally skipped their pages.

I am mean to tenors (at least ones I don't know).

I'm sorry to all the tenors out there, I don't know why I'm such a bad person. Or a weird person. Or whatever I am.

Anyways, back to the task at hand. You want some Christmas music?

These are 3 of the most recent albums I have purchased:
1. Christmas Cheers, Straight No Chaser

Pretty good. In my opinion not as good as the first album. Still, how can you go wrong with men's a cappella? That's right, you can't.

2. Very Merry Christmas, Dave Barnes

This is a really fun album with just a few traditional songs you'll know and several new ones that you need to know. I love Dave Barnes in a totally platonic way since we don't know each other. I mean, I love him as I love all human beings, but not romantic, lustful, I-want-to-have-your-babies love. And I'm done. 

3. Let it Snow, Michael Buble

He's a crooner. I'm a swooner. This album is delightful and makes me think of Christmas trees and fireplaces and knitting while big, fluffy snowflakes float down outside. You know, your traditional country Christmas.

So, the winner gets his or her choice of one of these three albums.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas song. Soooooo easy.

Deadline: Sunday, Dec. 5 8:00pm 

I like you. I think you're nice.

Do you have all these albums? Fine, you're not invited to the party. I also got Celtic Woman's Christmas album...are you interested in that one?

Deets: One comment per person, music will be sent through iTunes via email.

WINNER chosen by random.org!!!

Erin, whose favorite song is

definitely O Holy Night.
I have a CD mix I made a couple years ago with all artists I could find singing that song.